3 Things That Changed & 2 Things That Didn't After 10 Years In Episodes 9-10 Of "Family By Choice"

It is said that time and distance can be everything in human relations, and the latest episodes of “Family by Choice” showed us exactly why. It was clear that keeping things the same way forever wouldn’t be possible, but this time it was Yoon Ju Won (Jung Chaeyeon) who had to figure this out. She does so in the most painful way when she finds out Kim San Ha (Hwang In Youp) and Kang Hae Jun (Bae Hyeon Seong) will leave their house to go living with their respective biological families. As heartbreaking as their separation was, life goes on, and while some things changed, luckily some others remained exactly the same. 

Warning: spoilers from episodes 9-10 ahead! 

DIDN’T CHANGE: The love and support from their parents

After both Kim San Ha and Kang Hae Jun decided to leave the place that was their home, many things started to change overnight for our beloved trio. Not only would they have to face new struggles by themselves, but they would have to do it away from their family. However, one thing that never wavered was the love from the two men who raised them as their own. While it was sad to see Ju Won feeling abandoned by her two childhood brothers, it was even more sad to watch these two fathers accept the two young men’s decision and let go of their children. 

The case of Ju Won’s father is even worse once he realizes that Hae Jun might never come back after he goes to the States. As time goes by, these men learn to live on their own, always supporting Ju Won and trying to make her longing more bearable, even if they also miss their sons dearly. Nonetheless, once both Hae Jun and San Ha are back to their hometown 10 years later, their fathers are the first to embrace and welcome them. With no hard feelings, they are ready to shower them with their love, just as they’ve always done. 

DIDN’T CHANGE: Yoon Ju Won and Park Dal’s friendship 

Ju Won might have lost part of her family for 10 whole years, but fortunately, she could always count on her friendship with Park Dal (Seo Ji Hye). These two remain as close as ever, even becoming housemates after Ju Won opens a popular bakery and Dal turns into a fashionable lawyer per her mother’s wishes. Although they seem to be two mature young women, deep inside they are still the same teenagers that used to get in trouble during their high school years. 

For example, it seems like Dal still has a major crush on Kang Hae Jun, despite knowing he’s never looked at her as anything other than a younger sister and Ju Won’s friend. On the other hand, though Ju Won’s interests regarding her future and career were not really mentioned before the time jump, her turning into a successful business owner speaks to how much she’s worked to continue with her life and carry on even with a broken heart. And it is probably thanks to the constant love from her father, San Ha’s father, and her best friend Park Dal. 

CHANGED: Ju Won’s attitude toward San Ha and Hae Jun 

As much as Ju Won loved her little family and defended it against the world, she can’t help but feel betrayed the moment Kim San Ha and Kang Hae Jun decide to leave. She can’t bear the thought of going back to when it was only her and her father, but sadly she isn’t able to change their minds. Naturally, she comes to terms with their new situation with time and even tries her best to stay positive. However, as their lives move forward, she understands that things have changed forever and realizes that they aren’t family anymore, and they probably never were one in the first place. 

When they unexpectedly return after so long, she is less than excited to see them barging into her life once again. And understandably, she gives them the cold shoulder when they appear out of nowhere. Especially with no explanation as to why Hae Jun lost all contact after a couple of years, or why San Ha never visited despite living just a few hours away. Of course, this new cold and distant Ju Won is a very unpleasant surprise for both of them, and it will take more than just a few apologetic words and smiles from them to go back to how they used to be. 

CHANGED: Kang Hae Jun and Kim San Ha’s current lives 

Little by little we get to know the reasons behind Hae Jun’s and San Ha’s disappearance during all that time. For starters, you could guess that living with his mother wasn’t easy at all for San Ha and that she was the reason why he couldn’t even visit his father, let alone Ju Won. So far, we can only predict how much worse she will turn and how many more troubles she will create for her son. On the bright side, his sister seems to be a good ally for San Ha, and hopefully, she will help him so he can find his happiness again. 

For Hae Jun, there are still many unanswered questions about his life away from his family, but it probably wasn’t a bed of roses for him either. He looks far from the successful picture they had expected from someone who had everything to become a star basketball player. But it also seems like he isn’t totally broke. Soon enough, we learn that he injured his foot, making it impossible for him to continue his career as an athlete. As ironic as this appears, he doesn’t look regretful. Instead, he is determined to stay by his family’s side for good.  

CHANGED: Kim San Ha’s feelings for Yoon Ju Won 

Although we still know a little about how difficult it was for San Ha to live apart from Ju Won for 10 long years, we now see how the budding feelings he harbored during his teenage years are filling his heart to the fullest. He has returned with a clear purpose, despite knowing that there might be obstacles along the way, the first one being Ju Won’s denial to accept his return to her life. He has gone from a shy and collected older brother to a straightforward and determined lover-boy. 

While their romance is still far from beginning, San Ha isn’t backing out from the challenge, which is why he tries his best to become closer to Ju Won again. Even if it takes him pestering her old classmates to find out about her life or confessing his own feelings to prevent her from going on a date with another man, he won’t lose his chance to be with her this time around. But how difficult will it be for San Ha, Ju Won, and Hae Jun to find their new happiness? That is what we will discover in the upcoming episodes of “Family by Choice”! 

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